Interest in Stephen Drew “ever-growing,” Boras says

Super-agent Scott Boras held his annual winter-meetings media session today, so I asked him about the interest level in Stephen Drew, the free-agent shortstop the A’s would like to re-sign.

“Ever-growing,” Boras responded. “He’s looked at as the shortstop in this market.”

Boras said a number of clubs have talked to him about Drew, including Oakland. His meetings with A’s general manager Billy Beane have so far consisted of running into each other in the gym each morning. When I asked if those meetings had been productive, Boras said that he’s learned that Beane is stronger than he is.

Boras has said before he would like to see Major League Baseball allow the A’s to move to San Jose for the health of the game, and I asked him about the issue again today. Boras said there is “no question” that new facility in the heart of Silicon Valley would be in the best interests of baseball, benefiting all 30 franchises. (The Giants might argue that he means 29 franchises.)

“If everyone on the committee (examining the A’s stadium situation) were working toward the whole, they would agree the A’s belong in San Jose,” Boras said.

I relayed Boras’ comments to A’s general manager Billy Beane during his evening media session and he said, “I’ve always said that Scott is a very intelligent man, and we’re fortunate that a lot of very intelligent men are doing their due diligence on this issue.”